A review of 83 twin pregnancies affected by twin anemia polycythemia sequence found a heavy toll after one baby died in the womb. This condition involves blood flow problems between twins sharing a placenta. When one twin dies, the other faces serious risks. The study looked at what happened to the surviving twin in these difficult situations.
Early birth was very common. About 80 percent of the surviving twins were born before 34 weeks. Half were born even earlier, before 28 weeks. These early births often come with health challenges for the newborn.
Brain development also faced threats. About 15 percent of survivors showed brain abnormalities on scans done before birth. Another 9 percent showed issues on scans after they were born. Some children also had developmental delays later in life.
The review could not separate results by the specific stage of the disease or which twin lost blood. More research is needed to understand the long-term brain risks for these children. Families facing this diagnosis need clear information about these real dangers.